Despite falling behind by double-digits in the first half, No. 7 Kansas was able to battle back to defeat No. 20 Kentucky, 65-62, at the State Farm Champions Classic inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on Tuesday.
The Jayhawks were led by a career-high 23 points by redshirt freshman Jalen Wilson, who scored on 8-of-16 from the field, coupled with a career-high 10 rebounds. The performance was Wilson’s first-career double-double and his third-straight game scoring in double-figures.
Along with Wilson, junior Ochai Agbaji scored in double-figures for the third-straight game with 17 points on 5-of-17 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc.
In his 50th career start, Agbaji came out of the gates with the first five points for KU, before Kentucky opened up a 15-0 run to take the lead, 17-5, at the 10:59 mark of the first half. During Kentucky’s run, the Jayhawks converted just 4-of-18 from the field while turning the ball over eight times.
Despite the slow start, Kansas was able to trim Kentucky’s lead to just six points before the half, as Kentucky led KU, 36-29 at the break. Kansas shot 31% (11-of-35) from the field while out-rebounding the Wildcats, 22-21, in the first half.
In the second half, Kansas battled back behind a 10-0 run, which was the first Jayhawk lead since the 16:15 mark of the first half, when KU led 5-4. The run was fueled by six points by Wilson, while Kentucky fell into foul trouble.
Wilson’s career-day continued into the second half, where he reached his first-career 20-point game and helped put away the Wildcats in the final minutes.
Kansas will host its first home contest of the 2020-21 season, when they host Washburn on Thursday, December 3 inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. It is the first of a five game homestand for the Jayhawks, before beginning Big 12 play at Texas Tech on December 17.